DWP clarifies maternity leave

An article in Professional Pensions reports that the Department for Work and Pensions has clarified the law relating to maternity leave.

For a member of staff who is on ordinary maternity leave, their employer is required to continue to contribute pension contributions based on their full salary and not the actual pay that the member of staff is receiving.

Where the member of staff takes additional maternity leave, then for the first 13 weeks the employer should continue to pay the full level of contributions.

For the remaining 13 weeks, if the employer pays the member of staff a salary then they are also required to contribute to the scheme, if it is unpaid leave then there is no requirement to contribute.